George Strait Event Raises Over $425,000 For The Troops

11/15/2013.

(EBM) Country star George Strait and Texas businessman Tom Cusick raised over $425,000 at their third annual Vaqueros del Mar Invitational Golf Tournament and Auction at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort & Spa in Boerne, Texas on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3.

Strait and Cusick, who are joint owners of the resort and spa, first created the fundraiser in November 2011 to support wounded U.S. servicemen and women.

This year's event benefited Feherty's Troops First Foundation, an organization that provides meaningful assistance to military members who have been wounded serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The weekend-long event kicked off with a roping competition at Cusick's exclusive Texas hill country community Estancia at Thunder Valley, just minutes from the resort. Strait participated in the roping event, and Norma Strait and Silvia Cusick made a grand entrance by riding into the rodeo arena on a pair of Texas Longhorn bulls.

More than 450 invited guests also participated in a high-energy live auction, which raised an impressive $425,000 within a half-hour. At one point, Strait even sweetened the pot by removing his boots and offering them as part of a package deal, which sold for $130,000 alone. Rick Kell, co-founder of Feherty's Troops First Foundation, presented Strait and Cusick each with an American flag that was used during operations Enduring Freedom and Proper Exit in Afghanistan. The weekend came to a close with Strait, ever the consummate entertainer, leading a lively jam session that included special guests Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, Dean Dillon, Keith Gattis, Jamey Johnson, Jewel, Kyle Park and Randy Rogers. Check out a video of highlights from the event here.

EBM submitted this story. It may be edited- Excerpted here with permission.